Many see Memorial Day as the beginning of summer vacation, a chance to cook out or take advantage of a sale, but for those who've lost loved ones on faraway battlefields around the globe, Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember."I miss him incredibly. And this is what we do on Memorial Day," said Sharon McLeese.Sharon McLeese placed a single rose over the plaque honoring her son, Marine Lance Cpl. .Justin McLeese, who was 19 years old when he was killed in combat in Iraq in 2004.Each Memorial Day, McLeese comes to the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center to take part in the annual ceremony honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country.Throughout the crowd, a sea of memories can be seen etched in the faces of veterans who faced the ultimate test and came home, remembering and honoring those who did not.VFW Post 7286 Cmdr. John Callahan still struggles with loss of friends."Our fellow comrades, it's not like somebody you didn't know. It's a friend you hold and there he is defending the country," Callahan said.With emotion welling up, Callahan pauses a moment."You just made me remember something," Callahan said."It's not one of those days when you say 'Happy Memorial Day.' No, it's not a happy day, it's a somber day, a day we remember," said Matt Cole, a Marine Corps veteran who was injured in combat in Iraq, today reliant on a wheelchair. He now heads up the St. Tammany Veterans Affairs Office.For families who've lost loved ones to combat, both the pain and the pride never go away. Every day is Memorial Day."I'm very proud of him, Very proud of him. Wish I had the real thing instead of the medals, but I am going to honor what he did, you know, as long as I can still get up here and do it, that's what we do," McLeese said.Since the hostilities began in Iraq and Afghanistan, 137 members of the military from Louisiana have been killed in action.Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here.Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!

ST. TAMMANY, La. —

Many see Memorial Day as the beginning of summer vacation, a chance to cook out or take advantage of a sale, but for those who've lost loved ones on faraway battlefields around the globe, Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember.

"I miss him incredibly. And this is what we do on Memorial Day," said Sharon McLeese.

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Sharon McLeese placed a single rose over the plaque honoring her son, Marine Lance Cpl. .Justin McLeese, who was 19 years old when he was killed in combat in Iraq in 2004.

Each Memorial Day, McLeese comes to the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center to take part in the annual ceremony honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country.

Throughout the crowd, a sea of memories can be seen etched in the faces of veterans who faced the ultimate test and came home, remembering and honoring those who did not.

VFW Post 7286 Cmdr. John Callahan still struggles with loss of friends.

"Our fellow comrades, it's not like somebody you didn't know. It's a friend you hold and there he is defending the country," Callahan said.

With emotion welling up, Callahan pauses a moment.

"You just made me remember something," Callahan said.

"It's not one of those days when you say 'Happy Memorial Day.' No, it's not a happy day, it's a somber day, a day we remember," said Matt Cole, a Marine Corps veteran who was injured in combat in Iraq, today reliant on a wheelchair. He now heads up the St. Tammany Veterans Affairs Office.

For families who've lost loved ones to combat, both the pain and the pride never go away. Every day is Memorial Day.

"I'm very proud of him, Very proud of him. Wish I had the real thing instead of the medals, but I am going to honor what he did, you know, as long as I can still get up here and do it, that's what we do," McLeese said.

Since the hostilities began in Iraq and Afghanistan, 137 members of the military from Louisiana have been killed in action.

Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here.